HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/2008 - Workshop Agenda Packet - City CouncilTraditional Values, Progressive Thinking
In the Research Valley
Mayor Councilmembers
Ben White John Crompton
Mayor ProTem James Massey
Lynn McIlhaney Dennis Maloney
City Manager Lawrence Stewart
Glenn Brown David Ruesink
Agenda
College Station City Council
Workshop Meeting
Thursday, October 9, 2008 3:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue
College Station, Texas
1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda.
2. Presentation possible action and discussion of a Bryan-College Station Mobility Initiative to focus on
increasing mobility, regional cooperation, and improving safety for all users of the community
transportation systems.
3. Presentation, possible action and discussion regarding possible revisions to the Park Land Dedication
Ordinance.
4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the creation of a Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenway
Master Plan (BPGMP) including formation of an advisory committee.
5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding a proposed wireless plan for the City.
6. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of the City Council’s 2008-2009 Strategic Plan.
7. Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning the City Internal Auditor’s Purchasing Processes
Audit Report.
8. Council Calendar
October 14 82nd Annual Transportation Short Course Luncheon, 12 – 1:30 pm
October 15 Toyo Ink Opening Ceremony at 2400 N. Harvey Mitchell Prkwy. 11:00 am
October 15 Town Hall Meeting on the Bond Referendum at CS Conference Center, 7:00 pm
October 16 Council Reunion and Special Reception, Café Eccell, 3:00 pm
October 17 Luncheon – Health Science Center at Brazos County Expo Center, 11:30 am
October 17 Re-naming of Central Park Celebration at Central Park, 4:00 pm
October 20 IGC Meeting at BVCOG, 12:00 pm
October 21 Council Transportation Committee Meeting at Admin Conference Rm. 4:30 pm
October 23 Reception/Luncheon, Asst. City Manager David Neeley, CS Conference Rm. 12:00 pm
October 23 Council Workshop/Regular Meeting, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm
October 24 Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies at TAMU Anderson Track Complex, 7:00 pm
October 25 Employee Annual Banquet, CS Hilton, 6:00 pm
October 28-31 TML Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, 8:00 am
October 29 Senior World Passport Luncheon, CS Conference Rm. 11:30 pm
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9. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: A Council Member may inquire
about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the
recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the
subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
10. Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Arts Council of the Brazos
Valley, Audit Committee, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos
Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, Cemetery Committee, Design Review Board, Historic
Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief
Funding Review Committee, Library Committee, Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League
of Cities, Outside Agency Funding Review, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning
Commission, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Research Valley Partnership, Regional
Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Texas Municipal League, Transportation
Committee, Wolf Pen Creek Oversight Committee, Wolf Pen Creek TIF Board, Zoning Board of
Adjustments (Notice of Agendas posted on City Hall bulletin board).
11. Executive Session will immediately follow the workshop meeting in the Administrative Conference
Room.
Consultation with Attorney {Gov’t Code Section 551.071}; possible action. The City Council may seek
advice from its attorney regarding a pending or contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or
attorney-client privileged information. Litigation is an ongoing process and questions may arise as to a
litigation tactic or settlement offer, which needs to be discussed with the City Council. Upon occasion the
City Council may need information from its attorney as to the status of a pending or contemplated litigation
subject or settlement offer or attorney-client privileged information. After executive session discussion, any
final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed:
a. Application with TCEQ for permits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply
Corporation.
b. Sewer CCN permit requests.
c. Water CCN permit requests.
d. Water service application with regard to Wellborn Special Utility District.
e. Bed & Banks Water Rights Discharge Permits for College Station and Bryan
f. Attorney-client privileged information and possible contemplated litigation of prior expenditures of
College Station funds made by Paul Urso to Texcon.
g. Legal aspects of Water Well, permits and possible purchase of or lease of water well sites.
h. Cliff A. Skiles, DVM & C.A. Skiles Family Partnership, Ltd. Water permit applications with the Brazos
Valley Groundwater Conservation District.
i. JK Development v. College Station.
j. Taylor Kingsley v. College Station.
k. State Farm Lloyds as Subrogee of Mikal Klumpp v. College Station.
l. TMPA v. PUC (College Station filed Intervention).
m. City of Bryan suit filed against College Station, Legal issues and advise on Brazos Valley Solid Waste
Management Agency contract, on proposed methane gas contract. Update on legal proceedings for Grimes
County Landfill site and contracts for development of Grimes County site.
Economic Incentive Negotiations {Gov’t Code Section 551.087}; possible action The City Council may
deliberate on commercial or financial information that the City Council has received from a business
prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the city with which the City
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Council in conducting economic development negotiations may deliberate on an offer of financial or other
incentives for a business prospect. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be
in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed:
a. Proposed Development generally located southeast of the intersection of Earl Rudder Freeway and
Southwest Parkway
b. Ramada Inn Redevelopment
c. Hotel/Conference Center
Competitive Matters {Gov’t Code Section 551.086}; possible action
The City Council may deliberate, vote, or take final action on a competitive matter in closed session. The
City Council must make a good faith determination, by majority vote of the City Council, that the matter is a
Competitive Matter. A “Competitive Matter” is a utility-related matter that the City Council determines is
related to the City of College Station’s Electric Utility Competitive Activity, including commercial
information, which if disclosed would give advantage to competitors or prospective competitors. The
following is a general representation of the subject(s) to be considered as a competitive matter.
a. Power Supply
12. Action on executive session, or any workshop agenda item not completed or discussed in today’s
workshop meeting will be discussed in tonight’s Regular Meeting if necessary.
13. Adjourn.
APPROVED:
______________________________
City Manager
Notice is hereby given that a Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of College Station, Texas
will be held on the 9th day of October, 2008 at 3:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas
Avenue, College Station, Texas. The following subjects will be discussed, to wit: See Agenda
Posted this 6th day of October, 2008 at 2:00 pm
__
E-Signed by Connie Hooks
VERIFY authenticity with ApproveIt
__________________________
City Secretary
I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the above Notice of Meeting of the Governing Body of the City of
College Station, Texas, is a true and correct copy of said Notice and that I posted a true and correct copy of
said notice on the bulletin board at City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, in College Station, Texas, and the City’s
website, www.cstx.gov . The Agenda and Notice are readily accessible to the general public at all times.
Said Notice and Agenda were posted on October 6, 2008 at 2:00 pm and remained so posted continuously for
at least 72 hours preceeding the scheduled time of said meeting.
This public notice was removed from the official board at the College Station City Hall on the following date
and time: _______________________ by ___________________________.
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Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking
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Dated this _____day of _______________, 2008.
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS By____________________________________
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the ______day of _________________,
___________________Notary Public – Brazos County, Texas My commission expires:________
This building is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive service must be
made 48 hours before the meeting. To make arrangements call (979) 764-3517 or (TDD) 1-800-735-2989. Agendas may be
viewed on www.cstx.gov. Council meetings are broadcast live on Cable Access Channel 19.
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October 9, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item 2
Bryan-College Station Mobility Initiative
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Mark Smith, Director of Public Works
Agenda Caption: Presentation possible action and discussion of a Bryan-College Station
Mobility Initiative to focus on increasing mobility, regional cooperation, and improving safety
for all users of the community transportation systems.
Summary: Staff from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) will make a presentation
briefing Council on progress that has been made to launch this initiative.
The Bryan-College Station Mobility Initiative has been launched to focus on increasing
mobility, regional cooperation, and improving safety for all users of the community
transportation systems. The project, when fully deployed, will result in the establishment of
a Transportation Management Center (TMC) located in the TTI TransLink Laboratory facility.
Budget & Financial Summary: Funding for this initiative is not required in the current
budget. Estimated future costs and benefits will be part of the presentation.
Funding for this program can be from red light camera revenues.
Attachments:
N/A
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October 9, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item 3
Park Land Dedication Ordinance Presentation
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Marco A. Cisneros, Director, Parks and Recreation
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action and discussion regarding possible
revisions to the Park Land Dedication Ordinance.
Recommendation(s): Staff recommends proceeding with the final production of
possible revisions to the Park Land Dedication Ordinance. Further staff recommends routing
these revisions through the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Planning & Zoning
Commission.
Summary: Ordinance 2997, the current Park Land Dedication Ordinance, was approved
by the City Council on September 13, 2007. The Park Land Dedication Ordinance provides a
means to acquire and develop neighborhood parks in the City and the ETJ. The funds for
these park developments are generated by the development of new residential subdivisions
and must be used for neighborhood park acquisition and/or development with a prescribed
service area as defined by the City’s approved Park Zones.
The ordinance requires a three year review period, and the City Council approved the most
recent changes in September, 2007. However, both acquisition and development costs
associated with park development have increased dramatically over the past few years.
There are also some key policy issues to consider:
· What level of parks and recreation service will be provided for in the future?
· Who will pay for those services?
· Can community parks serve the function of neighborhood parks?
These issues were reviewed and discussed by the Joint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
and Planning & Zoning Commission Subcommittee June, 2008 as well as a public hearing
was held as a part of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting held in July, 2008.
The major points of discussion at these meetings included:
· The current cost of land
· The cost of park construction
· The need for more community parks in newly developed areas
· The estimated population growth for the City in the next ten years
Budget & Financial Summary: Future budgetary implications are dependent upon
Council direction. Any revisions to the current Park Land Dedication Ordinance will likely
result in some increased funding being available for neighborhood and community parks
land acquisition and/or development. These revisions however do not pay for any of the
increased operations and maintenance costs associated with any of these new parks and
recreation facilities.
Attachments:
1. City of College Station Park Land Dedication Ordinance
2. June 25, 2008 Joint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Planning & Zoning
Commission Subcommittee Minutes
3. July 8, 2008 Public Hearing and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, "SUBDIVISIONS" OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BY AMENDING
SECTION 10, "PARK LAND DEDICATION, BY INCREASING FEES, EXTENDING PARK
LAND REQUIREMENTS INTO THE ETJ; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
DECLARING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS:
PART 1 : That Chapter 9, "Subdivisions", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College
Station, Texas, be amended as set out in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and made a
part of this ordinance for all purposes.
PART 2: That if any provisions of any section of this ordinance shall be held to be void or
unconstitutional, such holding shall in no way effect the validity of the remaining
provisions or sections of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
PART 3: That any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty Five Dollars ($25.00) nor
more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). Each day such violation shall
continue or be permitted to continue, shall be deemed a separate offense. Said
Ordinance, being a penal ordinance, becomes effective January 1,2008.
PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED this 13'" day of September, 2007.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
CITY SECRETARY MAYOR
APPROVED:
CITY ATTORNEY
O/group/legal/ord~nance/amendmentjorm.doc
Approved by the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on May 9. 2006
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997
EXHIBIT "A"
Page 2
That Chapter 9, "Subdivisions", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas,
is hereby amended as follows:
1. By amending SECTION 10: "Requirements for Park Land Dedication" by deleting the
entire section and substituting the following:
SECTION 10: Requirements For Park Land Dedication
10-A Purpose
This section is adopted to provide recreational areas in the form of neighborhood park facilities
as a function of subdivision and site development in the City of College Station and its Extra-
Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). This section is enacted in accordance with the home rule powers
of the City of College Station, granted under the Texas Constitution, and the statutes of the State
of Texas, including, but not by way of limitation, Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212
(Vernon 1999; Vernon Supp. 2004-2005) as amended from time to time.
It is hereby declared by the City Council that recreational areas in the form of neighborhood
parks are necessary and in the public welfare, and that the only adequate procedure to provide for
neighborhood parks is by integrating such a requirement into the procedure for planning and
developing property or subdivisions in the City and its ETJ, whether such development consists
of new construction on vacant land or rebuilding and remodeling of structures on existing
residential property.
Neighborhood parks are those parks providing for a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities
and located within convenient distances from a majority of the residences to be served thereby.
The park zones established by the Parks and Recreation Department and shown on the official
Parks and Recreation map for the City of College Station shall be prima facie proof that any park
located therein is within such a convenient distance from any residence located berein. The
primary cost of neighborhood parks should be borne by the ultimate residential property owners
who, by reason of the proximity of their property to such parks, shall be the primary beneficiaries
of such facilities.
Therefore, the following requirements are adopted to effect the purposes stated above and shall
apply to any land to be used for residential purposes:
10-B General Requirements
The City Manager or his designee shall administer this Section 10, Requirements for Park Land
Dedication with certain review, recommendation and approval authorities being assigned to the
Planning and Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as specified
herein.
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 3
Dedications shall cover both land acquisition and development costs for neighborhood park land
for all types of residential development. Dedications shall be based on actual dwelling units for
the entire development. Increases or decreases in final unit count prior to final plat will require
an adjustment in fees paid or land dedicated. If the actual number of dwelling units exceeds the
original estimate additional park land shall be dedicated in accordance with the requirements in
this Section 10 with the filing of a final plat.
The methodology used to calculate fees and land dedications is attached hereto as Appendix I
and incorporated and made a part of this ordinance for all purposes.
Fees paid under this Section may be used only for development or acquisition of neighborhood
parks located within the same Zone as the development.
1. Land Dedication
For residential developments the area of land to be dedicated for neighborhood park land
purposes shall be determined by the procedures described in Appendix I.
The total amount of land dedicated for the development shall be dedicated in fee simple by plat:
a. Prior to the issuance of any building permits for multi-family development,
b. Concurrently with the final plat for a single phase development,
c. For a phased development the entire park shall be either platted concurrently with
the plat of the first phase of the development or
d. The developer may provide the City with financial security against the future
dedication by providing a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or other alternative
financial guarantee such as a cash deposit in the amount equal to the number of
acres park land required. The amount of the financial guarantee is calculated by
multiplying the number of acres of park land required to be dedicated by $24,000
as the estimated value of an acre of land in the proposed subdivision.
The financial guarantee will be released to the developer, without interest, upon the filing of the
final plat for the subsequent phase that dedicates the required park land.
2. Fee in Lieu of Land
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 4
The amount of the Fee-in-Lieu of Land ("Fee") shall be set at an amount sufficient to cover the
costs of the acquisition of neighborhood park land.
A landowner may elect to meet the requirements of Section 10.B. 1, in whole or in part, by paying
a fee in the amount set forth in Appendix I. Before making this election, for ally required
dedication greater than three (3) acres, or for any development containing floodplain or
greenway, the landowner must:
a. Obtain a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and
b. Obtain approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission pursuant to the Plat
Approval Procedures in Article 3.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance.
For neighborhood park land, the fee shall be calculated using the procedure described in sectioil
10.B. 1 d to value the land, and the procedure shown in Appendix I to calculate the total amount of
the fee which shall be remitted:
Prior to the issuance of any building permits for multi-family development; or
Upon submission of each final plat for single family, duplex or townhouse development.
Fees may be used only for acquisition or development of a neighborhood park facility located
within the same Zone as the development.
The City Manager or his designee is authorized to accept the Fee for dedications of fewer than
three (3) acres where:
There is a sufficient amount of park land existing in the park zone of the proposed
development or
The proposed dedication is insufficient for a Neighborhood Park site under existing park
design standards.
This determination shall be made based on the Recreation, Park & Open Space Master Plan, as
amended from time to time.
3. Park Development Fee
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 5
In addition to the land dedication, -there shall also be a fee established that is sufficient to develop
the land to meet the Manual of Park Improvements Standards to serve the zone in which such
development is located. This fee and the estimate of neighborhood park improvement costs shall
be computed as shown in Appendix I. The total fee shall be paid upon submission of each final
plat or upon application for a building permit, whichever is applicable.
4. Park Development Option in Lieu of Fee
A landowner may elect to construct the neighborhood park improvements in lieu of paying the
Park Development Fee under the following terms and conditions:
a. A park site plan, developed in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation
Department staff, must be submitted to the City Manager or his designee for
review. A site plan approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation and Parks
and Recreation Advisory Board is required upon submission of each final plat or
upon application for a building permit, whichever is applicable.
b. Within twelve (12) months from the date of said submission or applicatioil the
landowner shall submit detailed plans and specifications in compliance with the
site plan to the City Manager or his designee for review and approval.
c. All plans and specifications shall meet or exceed the Manual of Park
Improvement Standards in effect at the time of the submission.
d. If the improvements are constructed on land that has already been dedicated to
andlor is owned by the City, then the Developer must post Payment and
Performance Bonds to guarantee the payment to subcontractors and suppliers and
to guarantee Developer completes the work in accordance with the approved
plans, specifications, ordinances, other applicable laws and that City has issued a
Certificate of Completion for the improvements.
e. The construction of all improvements must be completed within two (2) years
from the date of the approval of the plans and specifications. A final, one-time
extension of twelve months may be granted by the Administrator upon
demonstration that said improvements are at least 50% constructed.
f. Completion and Acceptance - Park development will be considered complete and
a Certificate of Completion will be issued after the following requirements are
met:
i. Improvements have been constructed in accordance with the Approved
Plans,
ii. All Park Land upon which the improvements have been constructed has
been dedicated as required under this ordinance and
iii. All manufacturers' warranties have been provided for any equipment.
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 6
g. Upon issuance of a Certificate of Completion, Landowner warrants the impsovelnents for
a period of one (I) year as per the requirements in the Manual of Park Improvements
Standards.
11. The developer shall be liable for any costs required to complete park developlnent if:
i. Developer fails to complete the improvements in accordance with the
Approved Plans
. .
11. Developer fails to complete any warranty work
5. Reimbursement for City Acquired Park Land
The City may from time to time acquire land for parks in or near an area of actual or potential
development. If the City does acquire park land in a park zone, the City may require subsequent
Park Land dedications for that zone to be in Fee-in Lieu-of-Land only. This will be to reimburse
the City for the cost(s) of acquisition. Once the City has been reimbursed entirely for all such
Park Land within a park zone, this Section shall cease to apply.
10-C Prior Dedication or Absence of Prior Dedication
If a dedication requirement arose prior to enactment of this Section 10, that dedication
requirement shall be controlled by the ordinance in effect at the time such obligation arose,
except that additional dedication shall be required if the actual density of structures constructed
upon property is greater than the former assumed density. Additional dedication shall be
required only for the increase in density and shall be based upon the ratio set forth in Section
10.B. (Credit shall be given for land dedicated or fees paid pursuant to prior Park Land
Ordinance Nos. 690,983 or 2546.)
10-D Comprehensive Plan Considerations
The Recreation, Park and Open Space Master Plan is intended to provide the College Station
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board with a guide upon which to base its recommendations.
Because of the need to consider specific characteristics in the site selection process, the park
locatioils indicated on the Plan are general. The actual locations, sizes, and number of parks will
be determined when development occurs. The Plan will also be used to locate desirable park
sites before development occurs, and those sites may be acquired by the City or received as
donations.
Park Zones are established by the City's Comprehensive Plan, in the Recreation, Park and Open
Space Master Plan and are configured to indicate service areas for neighborhood parks. Zone
boundaries are established that follow key topographic features such as major thoroughfares,
streams, city limit and ETJ boundary lines Park Zones may be created or amended by the
Recreation, Park and Open Space Master Plan as dedications or circumstances dictate.
10-E Special Fund; Right to Refund
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 7
1. All Park Land fees will be deposited in a fund referenced to the park zone involved.
Funds deposited into a particular park zone fund may only be expended for land or
improvements in that zone.
2. The City shall account for all fees-in-lieu-of land paid under this Section with reference
to the individual plat(s) involved. Any fees paid for such purposes must be expended by
the City within five (5) years from the date received by the City for acquisition and/or
development of a neighborhood park as defined herein. Such funds shall be considered to
be spent on a first-in, first-out basis. If not so expended, the landowners of the property
on the expiration of such period shall be entitled to a prorated refund of such sum,
computed on a square footage of area basis. The owners of such property must request
such refund within one (1) year of entitlement, in writing, or such right shall be barred.
10-F Park Land Guidelines and Requirements
Parks should be easy to access and open to public view so as to benefit area development,
enhance the visual character of the city, protect public safety and minimize conflict with adjacent
land uses. The following guidelines and requirements shall be used in designing parks and
adjacent development.
Any land dedicated to the city under this section must be suitable for park and recreation
uses. The dedication shall be free and clear of any and all liens and encumbrances that
interfere with its use for park purposes. The City Manager or his designee shall
determine whether any encumbrances interfere with park use. Minerals may be reserved
from the conveyance provided that there is a complete waiver of the surface use by all
mineral owners and lessees. A current title report must be provided with the land
dedication. The property owner shall pay all taxes or assessments owed on the property
up to the date of acceptance of the dedication by the City. A tax certificate froin the
Brazos County Tax Assessor shall be submitted with the dedication or plat.
2. Consideration will be given to land that is in the floodplain or may be considered
"floodable" even though not in a federally regulated floodplain as long as, due to its
elevation, it is suitable for park improvements. Sites should not be severely sloping or
have unusual topography which would render the land unusable for organized
recreational activities.
3. Land in floodplains or designated greenways will be considered on a two for one basis.
Two acres of floodplain or greenway will be equal to one acre of park land
4. Where feasible, park sites should be located adjacent to greenways and/or schools in
order to encourage both shared facilities and the potential co-development of new sites.
5. Neighborhood park sites should be adjacent to residential areas in a manner that serves
the greatest number of users and should be located so that users are not required to cross
arterial roadways to access them.
6. Sites should have existing trees or other scenic elements.
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7. Detention 1 retention areas will not be accepted as part of the required dedication, but may
be accepted in addition to the required dedication. If accepted as part of the park, the
detention I retention area design must be approved by the City Manager or his designee
and must meet specific parks specifications in the Manual of Park Improvements
Standards.
8. Where park sites are adjacent to Greenways, Schools existing or proposed subdivisions,
access ways may be required to facilitate public access to provide public access to parks.
9. It is desirable that fifty percent (50%) of the perimeter of a park should abut a public
street.
10-G Consideration and Approval
Any proposal considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission under this Section shall have
been reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board or the City Manager or his designee
as provided herein, and a recommendation given to the Commission. The Commission may
make a decision contrary to the recommendation by a majority vote.
10-H Review of Land Dedication Requirements and Dedication and Development Fee
The City shall review the Fees established and amount of land dedication required at least once
every three (3) years. The City shall take into account inflation as it affects land acquisition and
park development costs as well as changes in the City's existing level of service. Fees are
authorized to be set by resolution of the City Council.
10-I Warranty Required:
All materials and equipment provided to the City shall be new unless otherwise approved in
advance by the City Manager or his designee and that all work will be of good quality, free from
faults and defects, and in conformance with the designs, plans, specifications, and drawings, and
recognized industry standards. This warranty, any other warranties express or implied, and any
other consumer rights, shall inure to the benefit of the City only and are not made for the benefit
of any party other than the City.
All work not conforming to these requirements, including but not limited to unapproved
substitutions, may be considered defective.
This warranty is in addition to any rights or warranties expressed or implied by law.
Where more than a one (1) year warranty is specified in the applicable plans, specifications, or
submittals for individual products, work, or materials, the longer warranty shall govern.
This warranty obligation shall be covered by any performance or payment bonds tendered in
compliance with this Ordinance.
Defective Work Discovered During Warranty Period. If any of the work is found or determined
to be either defective, including obvious defects, or otherwise not in accordance with this
ordinance, the designs, plans, drawings or specifications within one (1) year after the date of the
issuance of a certificate of Final Completion of the work or a designated portion thereof,
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whichever is longer, or within one (1) year after acceptance by the City of designated equipment,
or within such longer period of time as may be prescribed by law or by the terms of any
applicable special warranty required by this ordinance, Developer shall promptly correct the
defective work at no cost to the City.
During the applicable warranty period and after receipt of written notice from the City to begin
corrective work, Developer shall promptly begin the corrective work. The obligation to correct
any defective work shall be enforceable under this code of ordinances. The guarantee to correct
the defective work shall not constitute the exclusive remedy of the City, nor shall other remedies
be limited to the terms of either the warranty or the guarantee.
If within twenty (20) calendar days after the City has notified Developer of a defect, failure, or
abnormality in the work, Developer has not started to make the necessary corrections or
adjustments, the City is hereby authorized to make the corrections or adjustments, or to order the
work to be done by a third party. The cost of the work shall be paid by Developer.
The cost of all materials, parts, labor, transportation, supervision, special instruments, and
supplies required for the replacement or repair of parts and for correction of defects shall be paid
by Developer, its contractors, or subcontractors or by the surety.
The guarantee shall be extended to cover all repairs and replacements furnished, and the term of
the guarantee for each repair or replacement shall be one (1) year after the illstallation or
completion. The one (1) year warranty shall cover all work, equipment, and materials that are
part of the improvements made under this section of the ordinance.
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15
ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 10
APPENDIX I
PARK LAND DEDICATION FEE METHODOLOGY
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK REOUIREMENTS
I. Land Requirementsfor Neiglzborlzood Parks
The current level of service is one (1) acre per 276 people.
2006 Total Population - 77,261.
2.80 Persons per Household (PPH) for Single Family and 2.28 PPH for Multi-Family
based on Census information for owner and renter occupied units.
Single Family
276 people / 2.80 PPH = 98 DUs
1 Acre per 98 DUs
Multi-Family
276 people / 2.28 PPH= 12 1 DUs
I Acre per 12 1 DUs
11. Neighborhood Park Acquisition Costs (Determines Fee in Lieu of Land)
One (1) acre costs $24,000 to purchase.
Single Family
$24,000 I98 DUs = $245 per DU
Multi-Family
$24,000 / 12 1 DUs = $198 per DU
111. Neighborhood Park Development Costs (Determines Fee for Development)
The cost of improvements in an average Neighborhood Park in College Station is
$5 1 6,450.a
One Neighborhood Park serves 2,207 people, based on a total city population of
77,26 1 being served by 35 parks (count includes neighborhood parks and 6 mini
parks).
It costs $234 per person to develop an average intergenerational neighborhood park.
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ORDINANCE NO. 2997 Page 11
Single Family
$234 x 2.80 PPH = $655 per DU
IV. Total Neighborhood Park Fee:
Single Family
$245 + $655 = $900
Multi-Family
$234 x 2.28 PPH = $533 per DU
Footnote a
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK COST ESTIMATES WINTER 2005
Multi-Family
$198 + $533 =$731
1. Basketball Court
2. 6' Sidewalk @ $5.00 per SF x 4000 LF
3. Handicap Accessible Ramp x 2
4. Bridge (Average 30')
5. Picnic Unit (slab, table, trash can, grill) @ $3,000 x 2
6. Shelter & Slab (2 picnic tables wltrash cans)
7. Area Lights (12' ht.) @ $3,000 x 20
8. 2' x 8' Park Sign (Cylex) and Keystone Planter Bed
9. Benches (painted steel) with slab @ $2,000 x 4
10. Bicycle Rack
1 1. 50 Trees (30-45 gal. installed) w1Irrigation @ $350
1 1. Lawn Irrigation (average area)
12. Drinking Fountain (concrete - handicap accessible, dual height, dog dish)
13. Water Meter 1.5" /
14. Electric MeterIPanel
15. Finish Sodding, Grading & Seeding
16. Drain Lines @ $15 LF (Average 100')
17. Swing Set w1Rubber & Gravel Mix
18. Playground wlconcrete base & Rubber Surfacing
1 9. Playground Shade Cover
20. Galvanized Fence @ $35 LF 2,500'
21. Pond
Sub Total
10% Contingency
Total
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17
PARKS / PLANNING AND ZONING SUB-COMMITTEE
NOTES
Parks/Planning and Zoning
Sub-committee
June 25, 2008
PARK LAND DEDICATION
12:00 PM, Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Administrative Conference Room
1101 Texas Avenue
College Station, TX 77840
STAFF PRESENT: Marco A. Cisneros, Director, Parks and Recreation; David
Schmitz, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation; Pete Vanecek, Senior Park
Planner; Amanda Putz, Staff Assistant; Jason Schubert, Staff Planner – Planning
and Development Services
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Glenn Schroeder, Marsha Sanford
BOARD PRESENT: Jodi Warner, Chair; Jody Ford; Gary Erwin, Vice Chair
COUNCIL PRESENT: Ben White, Mayor
DISCUSSION: The meeting began at 12:15PM. The discussion began with
everyone introducing themselves. The purpose of the meeting was for the Board
and Commission to come together for a general purpose of looking into Park Land
Dedication. Some of the factors that were included in the discussion were the
park construction costs, park land dedication fees, differences between community
and neighborhood parks and land values. Marco A. Cisneros asked if there was a
need for a task force regarding this issue. The responses were overall that a task
force was not necessary, and public hearings were the answer. Jodi Warner
explained the recent history behind the park land dedication and the fee change.
She explained that the Park Land Dedication fees as they are right now are not
enough for the development of a park. There was discussion concerning the
Greenway / Greenbelt ordinance and if that was input into the Park Land
Dedication Ordinance. However, it was not, and it needs to be discussed
regarding placing it into the Park Land Dedication Ordinance. There was
discussion that some developers are building developments in phases. Then they
are eventually developing more phases, and parks are not placed anywhere near
the development. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. The City may need
to look at the appraised value for proposed park land, so that we can alleviate the
building of many houses on acres with a park no where close by. Marsha Sanford,
Commissioner, said that a 30 day appraisal should be required. The City has to
make sure that we have maintenance costs for all of the parks that we create.
Jodi Warner explained that the developers need an informational meeting to
explaining park land dedication. The developer needs to be shown what they will
18
Parks/Planning and Zoning
Sub-committee
June 25, 2008
2
be given for what they are giving the city. Marsha Sanford commented on the
Existing Residents Should Not Be Taxed to Build New Parks For New
Residents, that was posted on the PowerPoint handout. She commented that the
money is going to have to come from somewhere. She said that she would like to
keep her park maintained. She commented that she does not think that the
citizens would mind that issue either. When developers develop they need to be
better monitored when they do several phases, as to make sure a park gets
incorporated into the plans. Ben White, Mayor, asked why the city could not
monitor the developer’s account and stop several phases from happening without
a park being incorporated. The appraised value has got be put back into the
ordinance, to determine the Park Land Dedication fee. The level of service needs
to be clearly defined. The costs of all amenities need to be clearly stated and
defined, so that the public and developers are aware of the costs associated. Jodi
Warner stated that the Park Land Dedication needs to be on the Council calendar
by the end of the summer 2008. When it comes to Zone monies, the particular
monies that are allocated for a particular park need to be used for that particular
park. The meeting ended at 2:00 PM.
19
20
21
22
23
24
9 October 2008
Workshop Agenda Item 4
Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Bob Cowell, AICP, Director of Planning and Development Services
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the creation of
a Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenway Master Plan (BPGMP) inclusive of the Carter Creek
corridor and including formation of an advisory committee.
Recommendation(s): Staff recommends integrating the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan
and the Greenways Master Plan and would like Council input on the draft outline of the
project scope and formation of an advisory committee.
Summary:
The Greenways Master Plan, adopted in 1999, defined, classified and prioritized greenways
in the City of College Station. The plan also included guidelines for development and
maintenance of greenway trails. In 2002, The Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan was
adopted. This plan provided recommendations on bike lanes, bike routes and shared use
paths to be included and constructed. Both plans provided implementation strategies for
acquisition; regulation; construction, maintenance and operations; and education. Attached
is a draft scope outline for your review.
Budget & Financial Summary: In-house resources will be used to complete this master
plan.
Attachments:
Proposed Outline of Scope
25
Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan
Proposed Outline of Scope
The Scope of this Master Plan may include but is not limited to:
· Provide a vision for a bicycle, pedestrian and greenways system that
compliments and supports the City of College Station Comprehensive Plan.
· Develop a strategy of service that will guide planning, development,
management and operations of a comprehensive bicycle, pedestrian and
greenways system.
· Engage the community through public workshops and by synthesizing prior
planning efforts (i.e. Hike and Bike Task Force; COCS Comprehensive Plan
Update).
· Create and/or update an inventory of existing bike facilities, pedestrian
facilities, greenway trails and area attractors using GIS and fieldwork to help
determine needs and gaps in the system.
· Conduct a needs assessment considering demographics; health and wellness;
environmental protection; safety, accessibility and mobility; and the
development of level of service standards.
· Develop system recommendations and prioritizations using GIS as a tool to
automate the quantitative analysis and citizen input for qualitative analysis.
· Develop implementation strategies that would incorporate operations and
maintenance of facilities.
· Review and revise policy to strengthen the creation of a comprehensive
system.
26
October 9, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item 5
City Wireless Plan
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Ben Roper, IT Director
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding a proposed
wireless plan for the City.
Recommendation(s): Staff recommends approval of the recommendations in the
Wireless Plan.
Summary: Development and implementation of a Wireless Plan for the city was identified
as a Departmental Focus item during the 2007 Council Retreat. This proposed Plan was
developed in response to this direction; and provides a focused and measured approach to
implementing greater wireless access within our community.
The following objectives form the basis of the proposed wireless plan:
· Provide the most bang for the buck
· Establish a framework that can be expanded and grown, if needed
· Interface with and leverages existing infrastructure
· Provide for and encourage partnerships with governmental and non-governmental
entities/organizations
· Offer a unified approach to deploying indoor and outdoor wireless
Budget & Financial Summary: The proposed wireless plan can be implemented using
budget funds in the Wireless Infrastructure project (CO 0704).
Attachments:
Proposed Wireless Plan
27
Executive Summary
Wireless network access has gained tremendous popularity in the last few years. In
many locations, the ability to access the Internet using wireless technology is no longer
a novelty, but an expectation. The City of College Station uses wireless technology in a
number of applications to support operations and service, including providing free
Internet wireless access for patrons of the Larry J Ringer library. Plans for near blanket
wireless access were developed in the 2003 Wireless Plan, but due to several factors,
were not implemented.
While many of the wireless needs identified in the 2003 Plan still exist, there is no
definitive requirement for city-wide wireless access. However, there are specific
instances where wireless technology would provide significant benefit to employees and
citizens. This updated Wireless Plan provides specific recommendations aimed at
meeting the most pressing of these identified needs, including public Internet access
from selected city facilities and designated outdoor hot zones, employee wireless
network access in selected city buildings and designated hot zones, and a pilot wireless
surveillance project in Northgate.
The proposed implementation can be accomplished using the funds available in the
currently budgeted Wireless Infrastructure project (project # CO 0704). An objective of
the plan is to limit annual recurring costs by partnering with industry and local service
providers to achieve cost saving, and targeting service delivery to achieve the greatest
return for investment.
Municipal Wireless
Shortly after 2000, the concept of municipal wireless began to gain prominence
throughout the country. The idea of free or low cost ubiquitous wireless access was
appealing to citizens and officials alike. Many communities adopted the municipal
wireless idea out of frustration with commercial provider’s slow roll out of broadband
services, and the realization that commercial providers would not provide service to
areas judged as not profitable. Many communities also believed that wireless access
would spur economic development and serve to bridge the “digital divide”.
Section 54.202 of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act prohibits a municipality from
offering for sale to the public a service offered either directly or indirectly through a
telecommunications provider. This regulation has been interpreted to mean the
municipalities can provide free wireless service, but cannot offer that service for sale to
the public. This makes it extremely challenging in Texas for a municipality to develop a
wireless plan that is self funding. As a result, many municipalities sought to entice
corporate partners to enter into agreements for designing and deploying wireless
networks that would provide the municipality with a designated level of service or
capacity, provide reduced cost or free service to segments of the population or
designated areas, and offer remaining capacity for sale to fund the enterprise.
From 2003 through 2007, numerous Texas cities and municipalities announced plans
for wireless municipal networks and projects, including Corpus Christi, Granbury,
28
Brownsville, Houston, and San Marcos to name a few. One of the most notable of these
projects fell through when EarthLink announced its decision to withdraw further
investments in municipal wireless networks in November 2007 and subsequently
withdrew from its contract with the City of Houston. Since this time, numerous
municipalities throughout the nation have announced the cancellation or delay of
wireless projects. It is worth noting that wireless networks in Corpus Christ and
Granbury were successfully deployed. In both of these instances, the cities established
specific goals, objectives, and services to be delivered. In both instances, the primary
reason for building the network was not to offer free wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access.
History
In 1997 the City of College Station retained the engineering firm of New Signals
Engineering Corporation to develop a comprehensive data/telecommunications network
plan. The plan provided a roadmap that would allow the City to migrate to a higher
performance network and a more reliable topology. Initial implementation stages were
to create local area networks (LANs) and a wide area network (WAN) via a fiber optic
SONET ring that connects the City's "major buildings" with a self healing network
topology. Later stages depended upon a cost/benefit matrix that determined whether
specific edge facilities/equipment should be connected via fiber optic cable, copper
cable, leased lines, or wireless technology.
In 2003, The Office of Technology and Information Services (predecessor to the current
Department of Information Technology) was implementing the final stages of the 1997
network plan, and due to significant advances in wireless technology began
investigating Wi-Fi to extend the city’s network to connect outlying facilities and to
accommodate mobile workers.
Departmental interviews were conducted in April, May and June of 2003 to identify the
city's needs, and to help create a budgetary estimate. Based on these interviews and
the technology available at the time, a wireless plan was developed that called for
placing 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g access points (APs) on the radio tower, Greens Point
water tower and the Park Place water tower. The plan also called for multiple support
coverage APs to be installed, principally on fiber-connected traffic signal poles. Due to
multiple factors, including budget and personnel resource constraints, this proposed
wireless plan was not implemented.
City Wireless in Use Today
The city makes use of wireless today in a number of ways and applications. These
include Public Safety voice and data using the Motorola 800 MHz system, the 900 MHz
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, commercial cellular based
voice and data services, a wireless mesh network connecting designated water
locations operating in the 5GHz band, and point to point links to connect remote city
facilities and traffic signals. Additionally, the city provides free wireless internet access
in the Larry J Ringer Library.
29
800MHz System
Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) operate over a FCC licensed 800MHz system
that supports the Motorola Private DataTac Mobile Data System. It utilizes a
single channel, single-site transmitter co-located with the City’s 800MHz Motorola
Smartnet Trunk Radio System at 2221 Earl Rudder Freeway (across from Post
Oak Mall). This system provides generally good radio coverage throughout the
City with reliable serial data transfer at 4800-9600 Bps, depending on the device
used as the MDT. However, coverage is less consistent in the southern edge of
the city limits where much of the City’s growth is occurring. The Police and Fire
Departments together operate approximately 55 Panasonic Toughbook® MDT
workstations mounted in their vehicles. These Public Safety Departments use
the wireless communications function for Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) tasks
such as placing themselves “in service” as well as car-to-car and car-to-dispatch
text messaging. They also use the workstation component for stand alone map
access via hard drives or CD drives. The Electrical Department operates 15
Panasonic Toughbook® laptop computers with Motorola VRM 660 radio modems
providing the data transfer through the laptops’ standard serial port. This
combination allows the users to operate in the vehicle using accessory power
outlets and an external antenna connection as well as in the field using a PRM
660 belt case with integrated battery power and “stubby” antenna. Electrical
crew leaders and other specific field personnel use the laptops to access their
HTE Work Order System, which is hosted on the I5e located at City Hall. The
Panasonic Toughbooks®, and the PRM 660 all utilize Motorola’s proprietary
Radio Data-Link Access Procedure (RD-LAP) for the over-the-air
communications access protocol. Digital Encryption Standard (DES) provides
over-the-air data encryption for security. The serial speeds of 4800-9600Bps are
sufficient for the applications described above. However, both public safety users
and utility users have identified the need for wireless applications that are to
bandwidth intensive to use over the 800 MHz system.
SCADA
The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are used by
Water Services and Electric Departments. This FCC licensed spectrum is used to
by Water Services and Electric Departments to monitor and control field
equipment and devices.
Commercial Cellular Voice and Data
The city makes extensive use of commercial cellular based services for both
voice and data. The city currently has approximately 180 cell phones, 75
Blackberry devices, and 26 wireless data cards used in field applications. The
substantial growth of commercially available broadband service was not
anticipated when the initial city wireless plan was developed in 2003.
Wireless Mesh Network Water Services
30
In 2007 the Water Services Department installed a limited wireless mesh system
to connect specific operational sites. This network is configured to operate in
either the unlicensed 5.8 GHz band, or the licensed 4.9 GHz band, and uses
Cisco Aironet 1500 Series APs to support data and video.
Point to Point Links
There are several locations throughout the city where point-to-point wireless links
are in use for specific purposes. Most of these links are used to connect remote
facilities to the city fiber optic network or to support Traffic Control operations.
These links generally operate in the unlicensed frequency bands of either 2.4
GHz or 5.8 GHz.
Larry J. Ringer Library
Beginning in February 2005, free wireless Internet access was made available to
patrons of the Larry J. Ringer library. This service uses Cisco access points and
supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g wireless standards.
City Network
Since a wireless deployment that would support mobile workers with access to city
applications would require connection to the city’s wired network, it is relevant to
understand the current city network topology. The City completed a twenty mile
singlemode (1310nm/1550nm window) fiber optic ring in 1999, complementing the
existing but limited fiber infrastructure. Subsequently, the City has installed multiple
segments of spur fiber cable to provide high speed connectivity to existing and newly
constructed facilities. The City’s current data network utilizes the ring to connect the four
main nodes (City Hall, Police Department, Utility Service Center, and Utility Customer
Service (IT building) and has grown to approximately 67 miles of aerial and
underground fiber. Each of the main nodes is served by a Fore Systems ASX-1000
ATM core switch with OC-12 SM ring optical modules. At each site, Fore System ES-
3810 10/100 Ethernet edge switches with OC-3 MM links to its respective ASX-1000
provide 10/100 Ethernet connectivity to premises edge devices. In addition, Fore
Systems ES-2810 and Intel 510 switch stacks are uplinked via 100Base-T to these ES-
3810s to provide additional lower cost 10/100 connectivity for lower tier users and edge
devices. There are a total of ten (10) ES-3810s and thirty ES- 2810s/Intel 510s at the
four core sites. Medium and small remote facilities typically utilize spur fiber
infrastructure and discrete Fiber/Copper media converters to provide 100/1000Mbps
Ethernet connectivity to premises edge switches such as the ES-2810s and Intel 510s
(total of approximately twenty). The smallest and/or most remote City facilities are
typically connected to one of the four main nodes via 802.11 wireless bridges, Cable
Modems or digital subscriber line (DSL) leased services.
In 2006 the City replaced its Nortel Option 61 PBX with a Cisco Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) solution. This system also utilizes the same four nodes in a Gigabit
Ethernet ring architecture with multiple route and equipment redundancy features. Due
to the desire for system independence and reliability as well as other factors, the
majority of this network is dedicated to phone service and is not converged with the
31
existing data network at the end user level. Instead, a single 100BaseT Ethernet
gateway provides the necessary operational connectivity between the two systems.
The city has a current active project to replace and upgrade the ATM core network with
a fault tolerant, singlemode fiber based backbone that will increase the network
backbone base speed to 10 Gigabit Ethernet at the four main nodes, and to a minimum
speed of 1 Gigabit Ethernet at most other facilities.
Needs Determination
Many of the needs identified in the original wireless plan still exist. Meetings with
internal city departments reiterated the need for the following capability that is not
currently being met:
· Access to Department-specific applications by mobile workers
· Public Safety information to support Police and Fire units that is to bandwidth
intensive to be transmitted over the 800 MHz system; including fingerprint and
photos, criminal history, video, mapping updates.
· Sungard Public Sector (HTE) applications for field workers
· Departmental work order systems
· Code enforcement
· GIS mapping
· Internet access
· Informational kiosks
· SCADA applications
· Utilities
· Traffic signal control
· Security
· Lighting, irrigation, gate control
· Electronic signage control
· Digital still photography
· “Live” video
Streamlining workflow in the field represents an enormous potential reduction in
manpower and increase in productivity. A primary goal of providing wireless access to
the city’s network is enabling employees to remain in the field instead of having to return
to their office to enter data, receive the next job or modify their route as a result of
changing conditions. Using wirelessly enabled PDAs or laptops allows city personnel to
enter information, receive job assignments, plans, or research material or equipment
databases while in the field. The increased availability of high bandwidth cellular service
has served to mitigate or solve the connectivity requirement for some field personnel.
Examples include building inspectors and Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
personnel.
32
There are numerous locations throughout the city where there is a demonstrated need
to provide public wireless internet access. These include both in-building and outdoor
locations. Wireless internet access has been repeatedly requested by citizens at City
Hall, by customers and patrons at the Conference Center, by patrons of the various city
parks, and users of various meeting and training rooms in city buildings. The new
meeting and training facility being constructed at College Station Utilities is planned to
have free wireless internet access via cable modem.
Another important application that can be facilitated by a wireless system is automatic
meter reading, which is currently a time-intensive task. A wireless network can
aggregate data from automatic meter reading (AMR) solutions in areas of the city where
the fiber network is not available. This could eliminate or decrease the need for manual
reading, which is not only expensive, but is also a safety risk for meter reading
personnel. Another use of AMR is the real-time monitoring of water and electricity usage
data, creating more visibility into consumption. With real-time monitoring, the city can
determine if a high usage of electricity or water at any given time could be a result of
faults in the system, such as water leakage from broken pipes. A quick response can
improve customer satisfaction with the city’s performance in emergency situations.
Real-time monitoring can also be used to provide detailed usage data to customers,
enabling them to know peak use hours, and may aid in their development of
conservation measures, supporting the city’s Green initiative. Electric Department has
identified AMR as an initiative to explore in their Strategic Business Plan.
A review of the identified needs and requirements does not reveal a single or collective
requirement or set of requirements that would justify the cost of installing a city wide
wireless network. The most compelling argument for city wide access is in support of
public safety (Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and in some instances, Public
Works). Testing performed by the city in late 2007 resulted in satisfactory use of
commercial cellular service to PD vehicles using existing equipment and the addition of
a cellular data card with per vehicle one time costs of $185.00 and annual reoccurring
cost per vehicle of approximately $606.00. This reoccurring cost is primarily for the
monthly wireless data access plan. The result of this testing was provided to PD, but to
date budget constraints have precluded implementation.
In previous discussion with the Police Department, the need to provide enhanced
surveillance in the Northgate area has been discussed. The difficulty and expense of
providing traditional wired access to this area has precluded installation of security
cameras, or other equipment requiring network connectivity. Recent technology
developments in wireless surveillance and mesh technology provide potential solutions
to address the connectivity and security challenges of the Northgate area.
Wireless Technology Overview
Wireless network access means a network that uses radio frequency spectrum for
connectivity in the place of a traditional “wired” network. These wireless networks are
generally referred to as 802.11 networks or Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi, often interpreted to
mean wireless fidelity, was pushed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that pioneered
33
commercialization of the technology. Today Wi-Fi broadly refers to any system that
uses the 802.11 standard. The 802.11 designation comes from the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The IEEE sets standards for a range of technological
protocols, and it uses a numbering system to classify these standards.
In a Wi-Fi network, computers, or other devices, with Wi-Fi network cards connect
wirelessly to a wireless router. In Wi-Fi networks that provide public Internet access, the
router is connected to the Internet by means of a modem, typically a cable or DSL
modem. For applications used by city employees, the Wi-Fi network will connect to the
city’s wired network, permitting mobile access that ideally will provide employees with
the same applications and connectivity as they have in the office.
Wi-Fi networks may operate at either licensed or unlicensed frequencies. Most wireless
networks that provide personal, business, or free Internet service are unlicensed and
operate at frequencies of either 2.4GHz or 5.8 GHz. Recognizing the need for additional
wireless spectrum to support public safety agencies, in February 2002, the Federal
Communications Commission announced the allocation of 50 megahertz (MHz) of
spectrum in the 4940-4990 MHz band (4.9 GHz band) for fixed and mobile wireless
services and designated the band for use in support of public safety.
Wireless Network Standards
In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first
wireless local area network (WLAN) standard. They called it 802.11 after the name of
the group formed to oversee its development. Unfortunately, 802.11 only supported a
maximum network bandwidth of 2 Mbps - too slow for most applications. For this
reason, ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer manufactured.
802.11b
IEEE expanded on the original 802.11 standard in July 1999, creating the
802.11b specification. 802.11b supports bandwidth up to 11 Mbps, comparable
to traditional Ethernet. 802.11b uses the same unlicensed radio signaling
frequency (2.4 GHz) as the original 802.11 standard. Vendors often prefer using
these frequencies to lower their production costs. Being unlicensed, 802.11b
gear can incur interference from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and other
appliances using the same 2.4 GHz range.
· Pros of 802.11b - lowest cost; signal range is good and not easily
obstructed
· Cons of 802.11b - slowest maximum speed; home appliances and
other devices and networks may interfere on the unlicensed frequency
band
802.11a
While 802.11b was in development, IEEE created a second extension to the
original 802.11 standard called 802.11a. Because 802.11b gained in popularity
much faster than did 802.11a, some believe that 802.11a was created after
34
802.11b. In fact, 802.11a was created at the same time. Due to its higher cost,
802.11a is usually found on business networks whereas 802.11b better serves
the home market. 802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a
regulated frequency spectrum around 5 GHz. This higher frequency compared to
802.11b shortens the range of 802.11a networks. The higher frequency also
means 802.11a signals have more difficulty penetrating walls and other
obstructions.
Because 802.11a and 802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two technologies
are incompatible with each other. Some vendors offer hybrid 802.11a/b network
gear, but these products merely implement the two standards side by side (each
connected devices must use one or the other).
· Pros of 802.11a - fast maximum speed; regulated frequencies
prevent signal interference from other devices
· Cons of 802.11a - highest cost; shorter range signal that is more
easily obstructed
802.11g
In 2002 and 2003, WLAN products supporting a newer standard called 802.11g
emerged on the market. 802.11g attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a
and 802.11b. 802.11g supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps, and it uses the 2.4
Ghz frequency for greater range. 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b,
meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network
adapters and vice versa.
· Pros of 802.11g - fast maximum speed; signal range is good and not
easily obstructed
· Cons of 802.11g - costs more than 802.11b; appliances may interfere
on the unregulated signal frequency
802.11n
The newest IEEE standard in the Wi-Fi category is 802.11n. It was designed to
improve on 802.11g in the amount of bandwidth supported by utilizing multiple
wireless signals and antennas (called MIMO technology) instead of one. When
this standard is finalized, 802.11n connections should support data rates of over
100 Mbps. 802.11n also offers somewhat better range over earlier Wi-Fi
standards due to its increased signal intensity. 802.11n equipment will be
backward compatible with 802.11g gear.
· Pros of 802.11n - fastest maximum speed and best signal range;
more resistant to signal interference from outside sources
· Cons of 802.11n - standard is not yet finalized; costs more than
802.11g; the use of multiple signals may greatly interfere with nearby
802.11b/g based networks.
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802.16
Wi-Max, also known as 802.16, is a developing standard that looks to combine
the benefits of broadband and wireless. WiMax will provide high-speed wireless
Internet over very long distances, and appears to be ideal for backhaul
requirements. Since the standard is still being developed and few vendors have
developed Wi-Max products, specific applications for this technology are in the
very early stages of development.
Wireless Deployments
Outdoor wireless LAN deployments generally fall into one of three different categories:
hotspots, hot zones, or a pervasive umbrella wireless deployment. Each type
of deployment has its own advantages, disadvantages, and distinct requirements.
Hotspots
Hotspots are characterized by deployment of a single access point. The term is
commonly used to refer to a single wireless LAN access point within a café or
restaurant, but it is also applicable when that access point is deployed outdoors.
Many cities have found that the simplest entry point into an outdoor wireless
network is to create hotspots of coverage outdoors around government buildings-
fire stations, police stations, courthouses, field service depots, and so on-
allowing city personnel to gain high-speed connectivity at various locations
around town without having to return to headquarters.
Hot Zones
Deploying multiple access points to create a single contiguous coverage area
creates a hot zone. Hot zones typically concentrate a wider coverage in dense
areas with a higher capacity to support many users. Downtown business districts,
city government campuses, recreational parks and venues, and harbors or
marinas are all common locations for WLAN hot zones.
Pervasive Wireless Deployments
Pervasive wireless deployments are simply extensions of hot zones across
an entire municipality or a significant portion of it. Aside from the obvious
increase in access points needed with a larger deployment, the main difference
between a hot zone deployment and a pervasive wireless deployment is the
requirement for more backhaul points of broadband connectivity to the edge
access points, allowing data traffic to move more quickly to the Internet and
reducing congestion at the access level.
Because hot zones and pervasive wireless deployments consist of multiple access
points, these deployments must support two requirements:
· Uninterrupted roaming of mobile devices across access points
· Easy backhaul connectivity for the access points
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Similar to an indoor wireless LAN deployment, outdoor wireless deployments require
the infrastructure to support uninterrupted connectivity as a mobile device roams across
an access point boundary.
There are multiple reasons for limiting the requirement for backhaul to each access
point when deploying a hot zone or pervasive Wi-Fi network. Wireless access points
typically have a range of 1000 to 2000 feet outdoors, depending on the density of
buildings, foliage, the presence of other devices or networks operating in the same
frequency range, and other obstacles; as a result, they must be placed fairly close
together to create pervasive coverage. A good average estimate for many suburban
cities is 20 to 25 access points per square mile. The higher the access point is placed,
the better its range will be. Desirable mounting sites include utility poles, water towers,
and the top of city buildings. Existing backhaul at these types of sites is highly unlikely.
And the cost of providing network connectivity to these sites is much higher than pulling
cable inside a building. To address this problem, linking access points over the wireless
medium, also known as mesh networking, allows significant reduction in the number of
backhaul points, dramatically reducing the cost of a hot zone or pervasive wireless
network.
Proposed Wireless Implementation
As previously stated, there is no requirement or set of requirements that makes a
business case for the city to develop and deploy a city wide municipal wireless network.
There are, however, areas that would benefit greatly from wireless access. The
proposed wireless implementation plan meets the following objectives:
· Provides the most bang for the buck
· Establishes a framework that can be expanded and grown, if needed
· Interfaces with and leverages existing infrastructure
· Provides for and encourages partnerships with governmental and non-
governmental entities/organizations
· offers a unified approach to deploying indoor and outdoor wireless
Indoor Wireless – Public Access
There is immediate need and demand to provide public wireless Internet access
within certain city buildings. This need can be met relatively easily and at relatively
low cost by the city funding and installing the infrastructure, and funding the
monthly access costs to connect to the Internet via an Internet service provide
(ISP). This proposal would make free Internet available, but would not require the
city to manage the day-to-day operations of providing public Internet access. The
following city buildings are recommended for initial implementation:
· City Hall (first floor)
· Conference Center
· CSU Meeting and Training Facility (Assembly room and Conference Room)
· Utility Customer Service/IT Building
· Municipal Court Lobby and Courtroom
· Wolf Pen Creek Green Room
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· CCWWTP Training Room
The city could issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) soliciting Internet Service
Providers to provide most favorable rates and service plan to become the city’s
preferred provider. Additionally, the city would benefit by providing a service to the
public.
Funding for the initial equipment needed would be purchased from the Wireless
Infrastructure project (project CO0704). Depending on actual cost, monthly
connection charges for City Hall, Conference Center, and Utility Customer
Service/IT Building could be funded out of the current IT/E-Government operating
budget. The Electrical Department is planning to fund the monthly connection cost
for the new CSU Meeting and Training Facility. Municipal Court would fund the
Municipal Court Lobby and Courtroom monthly connection charge.
Implementation of this part of the wireless plan should be coordinated with the
ATM Network Upgrade project that is beginning. There are substantial potential
cost and resources savings that could be realized by coordinating the integration
of the wireless and wired network.
Indoor Wireless – City Staff Access
There is also demand for city staff to have mobile access to their normal desktop
applications throughout city hall. The infrastructure for this access is partially in
place and could be expanded using Wireless Infrastructure project funds.
Implementation of this portion of the plan does not imply departmental or budget
approval for expanding the number of laptop computers issued to staff.
A laboratory/test network for staff access would be set up in the IT building. This
site would be used as proof of concept and as a test bed for configuration changes
as well as hardware and software upgrades.
Outdoor Wireless – Public Access
There are several locations in the city, both city owned and privately owned, where
there is demand for public internet access in outdoor areas. City owned areas that
lend themselves to the establishment of hot zones include the Wolf Pen Creek
Amphitheater area and Veterans Park. The most notable privately owned area is in
Northgate.
The city was approached in the past by a private company wishing to fund wireless
internet access at Wolf Pen Creek in exchange for advertising rights. The city
should immediately contact this firm to determine if they are still interested in
sponsoring this access, and if so, begin negotiations. The city should also solicit
sponsors for wireless access at Veterans Park and other city parks.
The Northgate area is of interest to both the city and the area merchants. The city
would greatly benefit from increased video surveillance in this area, and merchants
may be interested in providing free or subsidized wireless access to patrons in a
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coordinated fashion. While it is acknowledged that several establishments currently
provide wireless Internet access, there may be benefit in approaching the
Northgate Merchants Association with a proposal to provide area coverage, as an
alternative to each establishment providing access individually. A partnership
between the City and area merchants has the potential for benefiting both parties
with enhanced safety and security and the mounting of video surveillance
equipment and access points on building and infrastructure owned by both parties.
As was previously discussed, due to the expense of implementing a traditional
wired network, the Northgate area is a prime candidate for a wireless mesh
solution that can support both public and private needs.
Outdoor Wireless – City Staff Access
The establishment of hot zones in key areas of the city should be further explored.
There is significant advantage to various city departments to have areas of the city
where employees in the field can go to “connect to the network” without having to
return to the office. Specific examples include hot zones within established police
beats, and areas where code enforcement officers can connect to update
information and file reports. The demand for and location of these designated hot
zones requires further study and meeting with other department representatives.
The other aspects of the proposed wireless plan provide a basis to further develop
and refine this portion of the plan.
Recommendations
The proposed wireless plan builds on previous work done in this area by the city, and
recognizes the advances in technology and changes in the commercial wireless
environment that has occurred in the last five years. The plan provides for significant
movement forward in several areas, while preserving the ability to modify and adjust
course if needed. Current and past investment in infrastructure is heavily leveraged to
provide the most gain for dollars spent. Specific recommendations include:
· Issue a RFP soliciting Internet Service Providers to provide public Internet service
from city facilities.
· Solicit proposals from private firms to provide wireless internet service from city
owned outdoor locations.
· Engage the Northgate Merchants Association to determine their willingness to
cooperate with the city to enhance safety and security in Northgate by installing
wireless video surveillance equipment, and partnering with the city to share
infrastructure cost that could be used to support public wireless internet service.
· Approve the locations identified for indoor wireless internet access and
implementation that is coordinated with the network upgrade project.
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October 9, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item 6
Council Strategic Plan
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: City Manager’s Office
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion of the City Council’s
2008-2009 Strategic Plan.
Recommendation(s): Adopt the 2008-2009 City Council Strategic Plan as modified by
Council discussion during the retreat.
Summary: The Council Strategic Plan presented with this item is being brought forward as
a result of City Council discussion during their Strategic Planning Retreat. The revised
Council Strategic Plan contains a few additions to the document adopted last year and these
changes are based on the input received by the Council at their July retreat. The main
additions to the plan are the inclusion of Neighborhood Integrity and Green College Station
as strategic issues. The document also now includes a Council Vision Statement Summary
as well as City Management Priorities.
Proposed additions and changes to the policy are underlined.
Budget & Financial Summary: None.
Attachments:
1. 2008-2009 Council Strategic Plan
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Draft August 2008 Page 1
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Strategic Plan 2008-2009
In College Station, we strive to set the bar. We conduct daily business as a City aiming
to provide our citizens with the best quality of life possible. The City Council and City
staff work hard to ensure that we are moving in a direction that is best for the overall
character and betterment of our community based on the voices and opinions of those
living in College Station. A highly qualified workforce, an extremely engaged citizenry
and a set of focused goals are the cornerstones of what make this a successful
community.
As a rapidly growing city, we recognize the importance of neighborhood integrity as
well as responsible growth in our communities. We focus on forward thinking policies
that retain the integrity and standard of service to which our citizens have become
accustomed. Efforts made to Green College Station and constructing a new City Hall are
endeavors this City pursues in order to reach the next level.
The Strategic Plan is a collaboration of the City Council and the numerous City
departments working together to create a cohesive forward direction for College Station
in the upcoming years. Updates were made to the plan as a result of the City Council’s
annual strategic planning retreat. In addition to adding the two new strategic issues of
Neighborhood Integrity and Green College Station, other policy goals and direction are
interspersed throughout the document.
Following, you will find an outline for the goals and practices we have set to achieve in
the near future so that each citizen may enjoy a greater quality of life than ever before.
Mission Statement
ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF COLLEGE STATION, HOME OF TEXAS A&M
UNIVERSITY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE
COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
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Draft August 2008 Page 2
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Community Vision Statement
College Station, the proud home of Texas A&M University and the heart of
the Brazos Valley, will be a vibrant, progressive, knowledge-based
community which promotes the highest quality of life by …
Ø ensuring safe, tranquil, clean, and healthy neighborhoods with enduring
character;
Ø increasing and maintaining the mobility of College Station citizens through a
well planned and constructed inter-modal transportation system;
Ø expecting sensitive development and management of the built and natural
environment;
Ø supporting well planned, quality and sustainable growth;
Ø valuing and protecting our cultural and historical community resources;
Ø developing and maintaining quality cost-effective community facilities,
infrastructure and services which ensure our city is cohesive and well connected;
and
Ø pro-actively creating and maintaining economic and educational opportunities
for all citizens.
College Station will remain among the friendliest and most responsive of
communities and a demonstrated partner in maintaining and enhancing all that
is good and celebrated in the Brazos Valley. It will forever be a place where
Texas and the world come to learn.
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Draft August 2008 Page 3
STRATEGIC PLAN
City of College Station Core Values
To promote:
• The health, safety, and general well being of the community
• Excellence in customer service
• Fiscal responsibility
• Involvement and participation of the citizenry
• Collaboration and cooperation
• Regionalism: be active member of the Brazos Valley community
and beyond
• Activities that promote municipal empowerment
Organizational Values
• Respect everyone
• Deliver excellent service
• Risk, Create, Innovate
• Be one city, one team
• Be personally responsible
• Do the right thing – act with integrity and honesty
• Have fun
Using the community vision, mission statement, and values as a spring board,
the College Station City Council has set the strategic direction for the city
government through development of ten Strategic Issues and supporting Policy
Initiatives. The Strategic Plan focuses organizational resources and identifies
those intentional actions to be undertaken by city government to achieve the
desired outcomes.
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Draft August 2008 Page 4
STRATEGIC PLAN
Citywide Safety & Security
Safety and security of College Station citizens is imperative. We want to ensure all
citizens and visitors to the community feel safe while enjoying the quality of life offered
by College Station.
_______________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Invest in our public safety infrastructure to provide consistent and high quality
public safety services
§ Benchmark our public safety services with other similar communities to ensure we
are setting the pace at a national level
Effective Communications
Effective two-way communications with both internal and external audiences is
essential to the continued success of the many programs and services offered by the
City of College Station. Utilizing a variety of media and technology, we will strive to
market our services, communicate our mission and values, engage our citizens in the
decisions of city government while telling the College Station story to our elected
officials, employees, citizens, community partners, and others nationwide.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Implement a communication strategy which continually informs our citizens about
the city government
§ Market the City of College Station as a superior service provider
§ Cultivate citizen trust by fostering and practicing open, accountable and responsible
government
§ Interact with appointed committees to ensure the City Council’s vision and
expectations are known and adhered to when discussing policy
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Draft August 2008 Page 5
STRATEGIC PLAN
Growing Sustainable Revenue Sources
Balanced with Needs
The ability of College Station to finance quality services, meet demands of growing our
infrastructure and provide for the quality of life quotient for the community, requires
fiscal soundness and growing our revenue sources. We will adhere to sound business
practices which obtain true value for dollars spent, diversify our revenue sources
through identification of innovative revenue strategies, and implement financial
policies which protect city resources.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Develop innovative income strategies to diversify and strengthen income base
§ Re-evaluate and update financial policies to ensure they continually meet our needs
as a city government
§ Improve business practices to ensure we achieve the best value for dollars invested
Destination Place to Live and Work
We want College Station to be a destination city which attracts visitors, residents,
businesses, and investment. In promoting and maintaining a high quality of life, we
want to be a community which provides diverse opportunities for work, entertainment,
livable neighborhoods, and business development. We want College Station to be
among the best cool places to live in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Invest in infrastructure and programs that create a sense of place for College Station
citizens
§ Identify and invest in those programs and activities that promote College Station as a
cool place to live, work , and play
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STRATEGIC PLAN
Exceptional Multi-modal Mobility
The rapid growth of College Station is impacting our ability to provide an efficient
public and private transportation network to ensure mobility and safety to our citizens.
Development of an efficient multi-modal transportation system is needed to promote a
healthy local economy and support the community’s quality of life.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Develop a transportation plan that supports the development of College Station in
regard to its land use and transportation needs
§ Implement our transportation plan to improve our overall transportation network
and support development of the community
§ Improve operational efficiency of our existing transportation network
§ Implement state of the art transportation management programs and systems
§ Lobby for state and federal transportation funds to continually improve our
transportation systems
Sustainable Quality City Workforce
Our employees are our most valued asset. We want to ensure the City of College
Station work environment is exceptional while encouraging innovation and creativity.
We want to be able to attract the best and brightest and retain highly competent
individuals who serve the citizens of College Station.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Create a work environment that attracts and retains quality employees
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STRATEGIC PLAN
Exceptional Infrastructure and Core Services
Our core mission is the delivery of exceptional services to our citizens. Our
infrastructure is the backbone of our service delivery system and we will continually
make prudent investments to grow and maintain all infrastructure to support our
delivery of services. We will expect our core services to be to of the highest quality. We
expect our services to our customer to be focused, timely and cost effective.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Ensure our infrastructure is well maintained and expands to meet the needs of our
citizens and various city services
§ Provide core city services that are customer focused, cost effective and of the highest
quality
Diverse Growing Economy
We want to promote through effective policies and programs the continued growth and
diversification of our economy. We will provide leadership to encourage the
diversification of our economy while actively collaborating with our community
partners to produce economic benefit to all citizens.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Develop and implement specific plans to enhance and diversify our tax base
§ Develop and implement plans which promote redevelopment of strategic areas of
College Station
§ Seek economic development opportunities and partnerships which position College
Station as a national center for bio-technology
§ Enhance tourism with the development of needed infrastructure to support the
tourism segment of our economy
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Draft August 2008 Page 8
STRATEGIC PLAN
Neighborhood Integrity
Neighborhoods are the basic building blocks of our city. Neighborhoods are where we
live, raise our families, and socialize with our friends and neighbors. In many ways our
city is only as strong and sustainable as our neighborhoods. Our challenge is to
welcome the increasing number of students while retaining the strength and vitality of
our neighborhoods.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Promote comprehensive planning and management of growth
§ Ensure College Station remains a highly livable city driven by quality of life
§ Improve the capacity of neighborhoods to deal with planning and quality of life
issues
§ Orient service delivery toward neighborhoods
§ Enhance the City’s enforcement tools to better address the rental market
§ Educate key stakeholders and the community
§ Promote the development of sustainable neighborhoods that address the needs of
various population groups
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Draft August 2008 Page 9
STRATEGIC PLAN
Green College Station
Sustainability and resource conservation has become a constant on the local
government landscape. There is a clear case to be made for sustainability and
conservation of resources in College Station. Our emphasis on the quality of life for the
community demands that we aggressively work towards creating a culture in the
community which embraces sustainability as its mantra.
_______________________________________________________________________
Policy Initiatives
§ Include renewable green energy in a portion of our purchased power while reducing
the overall energy consumption
§ Reduce our overall per capita water consumption
§ Develop mechanisms to reuse water in the community
§ Reduce the overall volume of waste generated in the community while developing
environmentally sound and economically feasible means to dispose of waste
§ Develop specific strategies to promote efficient use of our land while protecting our
natural resources
§ Promote open and green space as a prominent component of our community
character
§ Inventory global warming emissions in the City operations as well as in the
community and set realistic reduction targets
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Draft August 2008 Page 10
STRATEGIC PLAN
City of College Station
City Council Priorities Summary 2008-2009
Ø Continue development of Neighborhood Integrity Strategy
Ø Encourage neighborhood development targeted for students
Ø Analyze financial long term stability of the city - making
growth pay for itself
Ø Promote strong intergenerational parks
Ø Define opportunities for improved business and industrial
growth
Ø Continue building foundation for Green College Station
Initiative
Ø Convention Center: Future direction
Ø Improve overall political health within city government and
promote communication between various stakeholders
Ø City Hall/ City Center: Goal, Strategy, Actions
Ø Evaluate alternative transportation options and address
transportation issues
Ø Increased interaction with appointed committees to ensure
the Council’s vision and expectations are known
Ø Secure infrastructure for the next 20+ years
Ø Create an accessible wireless system
Ø Improve hike and bike trails
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Draft August 2008 Page 11
STRATEGIC PLAN
City of College Station
City Management Priorities 2008-2009
Ø Fill vacant upper management positions
Ø Green College Station initiatives
Ø Successful completion of 2008 bond issue
Ø Comprehensive Plan Update
Ø Capital Improvement Projects progress
Ø Address City Hall needs
Ø Make Hotel Convention Center a reality
Ø Complete overhaul of Neighborhood Services structure
Ø Complete Police Management Review and HR Classification
Study
Ø Continue to identify ways to motivate and re-energize staff
Ø Seek creative ways to fund City government and new
initiatives
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October 9, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item No. 7
Purchasing Processes Audit Report
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Ty Elliott, City Internal Auditor
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning the City
Internal Auditor’s Purchasing Processes Audit Report.
Recommendation(s): Give staff direction to implement the recommendations contained
in the Purchasing Processes Audit Report.
Summary:
The Purchasing Processes Audit Report contains seven sections. The audit findings from
these sections are summarized below:
Administrative review: The City of College Station’s purchasing functions are effectively
administered by competent, well trained purchasing professionals. Organizationally,
purchasing administration is appropriate structured to promote procurement best practices,
ethical behavior, and legal compliance.
Procedural review: Purchasing policies and procedures are well documented, comply with
State and municipal purchasing laws, and assist in the efficient and economical procurement
of goods and services.
Standards and specifications review: Items ordered are appropriately standardized to
control the proliferation of products ordered and to promote purchasing economy.
Specifications are designed to establish minimum standards for acceptability and equitable
vendor selection.
Competitive bidding and proposals review: The City of College Station’s competitive bidding
policies, procedures, and processes adequately encourages competition, prevents
favoritism, and secures the best work and materials at the lowest practicable price. These
policies, procedures, and processes were also found to be in compliance with State and
municipal purchasing laws.
Cooperative purchasing review: The City of College Station actively pursues cooperative
purchasing opportunities in order to realize cost savings through increased purchasing
power.
Internal control review: Purchasing controls could be strengthened in order to prevent
fraud, abuse, or potential errors. First, the city should require supervisory approval of
requisitions within their purchasing information system. Second, certain purchasing duties
should be segregated.
Legal review: City of College Station purchasing policies, procedures, processes, and
contractual agreements comply with State and municipal law requirements.
Attachments: Purchasing Processes Audit Report
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